dio cassius: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “dio cassius” mean?
The name of a Roman historian who wrote a major history of Rome.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name of a Roman historian who wrote a major history of Rome.
Refers to the historical figure (c. AD 155–235) and his work, the 'Roman History', a significant primary source for the Roman Empire, particularly the Imperial period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Pronunciation may follow Latin conventions more closely in British academic circles.
Connotations
Carries connotations of classical scholarship, historiography, and primary source analysis.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse, appearing almost exclusively in academic texts, history books, and university lectures.
Grammar
How to Use “dio cassius” in a Sentence
[Author] + Dio Cassius + [verb of reporting/writing]According to + Dio CassiusIn + Dio Cassius + [possessive] + accountVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dio cassius” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Dio-Cassian account is crucial.
- This is a key Dio-Cassian passage.
American English
- The Dio-Cassian account is crucial.
- This is a key Dio-Cassian passage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in history, classics, and ancient studies departments. Used when discussing primary sources for Roman history.
Everyday
Extremely rare, only in very specific discussions of ancient history.
Technical
Used as a proper noun citation in historical and philological research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dio cassius”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dio cassius”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dio cassius”
- Using 'Dio Cassius' as a common noun.
- Misspelling as 'Dio Casius' or 'Dio Cassium'.
- Incorrectly calling him a Greek historian (he was a Roman citizen who wrote in Greek).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are used. 'Cassius Dio' is the more traditional ordering of his Roman name (Cassius was the nomen, Dio the cognomen). 'Dio Cassius' is a common modern English rendering.
His 'Roman History' covered nearly a thousand years of Roman history. For many periods, especially the Imperial era, his account is one of the few continuous surviving narratives, making it fundamental for our understanding.
For late Republican and early Imperial events, no—he wrote centuries later. However, for events of the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD (his own lifetime), he was a contemporary and sometimes a senator directly involved in imperial politics.
No. Large portions are lost and survive only in fragments, summaries (epitomes) by later Byzantine scholars, and excerpts. The surviving text is a compilation of these remnants.
The name of a Roman historian who wrote a major history of Rome.
Dio cassius is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Dio cassius: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdiːəʊ ˈkæsiəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdiːoʊ ˈkæʃəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Dio (like 'Theo' for God) wrote a divine history of Rome; Cassius sounds like 'cash', but his history is priceless.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WINDOW INTO THE PAST; AN ANCIENT VOICE.
Practice
Quiz
In what language did Dio Cassius primarily write his 'Roman History'?